Bondi Accused of Epstein Files Cover-Up After Blowing Off Deadlines
Senator Chuck Schumer questioned what the DOJ was trying to hide.

The Daily Beast/Getty
Venezuela might be top of the agenda as Congress returns from its holiday recess, but Democratic lawmakers have not forgotten that the Trump administration has missed a key deadline regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday slammed the Justice Department for failing to submit a report to Congress required by the law that forced the release of the files.
He noted in a post that it was “required to include a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, without redactions.”
“What are they trying to hide?” Schumer wrote in a lengthy post on X.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer blasted the Justice Department for failing to meet the deadline to report to Congress on the Epstein files.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The January 3 deadline for the Justice Department to explain its redactions for the produced documents came and went without a response, the same day the U.S. carried out its strike on Venezuela.
The Democratic senator noted that it has been seventeen days since the Justice Department first violated the law by failing to release all the Epstein files within 30 days of Trump signing it.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Instead, the Justice Department last month released a trove of files, many of which were heavily redacted.
Trump officials said that more files would be released in the coming weeks rather than meeting the deadline. Several more tranches have been dropped since.
In a stunning admission just before Christmas, the Justice Department revealed it had discovered over a million more files related to Jeffrey Epstein in the Southern District of New York.
It was then revealed that the Justice Department was scrambling to recruit 400 lawyers to help review 5.2 million pages of documents related to the convicted sex offender, according to the New York Times, just before the new year.
“Here’s what we’ve seen: Less than 40,000 pages released since Dec. 19, heavily redacted, none of the key documents, and no new information on the 10 alleged Epstein co-conspirators,” Schumer wrote on Monday.
BREAKING: Trump’s DOJ has failed to submit a report to Congress, which is required to include a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, without redactions.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 5, 2026
What are they trying to hide?
It’s been 17 DAYS…
He warned that Congress does not even “truly know how many more files there are to be released” and accused the Justice Department of lawlessness.
Schumer was not the only lawmaker who returned to Washington on Monday with the Epstein files still top of mind.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee returned from recess with renewed focus on the files.
“There’s a lot going on in the world that’s important,” they wrote on X. “And that includes our work on the Epstein files. We won’t forget, and we won’t be distracted.”
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog


ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT